Owners report the power steering suddenly failing or turning stiff, sometimes with a power steering fault message, and in some cases the steering wheel locking up at low or highway speed. Dealers often replaced the steering rack or gear assembly, and many owners say their VIN was left out of the steering recall.

How common

104 of the 300 complaints we read (35%), roughly 774 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 97 of 104 reports; 4 reports mention a crash; 1 report mentions an injury

Related recalls

Owners mention 14V286000. Check the VIN for it.

Before you buy: Ask whether the steering rack or steering gear assembly has been replaced or the steering recall done, and check for heavy steering or a power steering warning on the test drive.

• Steering completely locked up while turning at low speed with no warning beforehand, leaving the driver unable to steer. · filed Jun 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  I was driving at about 25 mph when the steering completely locked upon me going around a corner. There was no warning lamps or messages prior to it locking up. If another car would have been in the other lane I would have crashed. I would have been unable to avoid wrecking into anyone or anything that was in the way because I had zero control of my steering. There was nothing I could do to turn. It has not been inspected.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11746989

• Steering wheel intermittently stuck and made grinding noises while driving after a popping sound backing out of the garage; owner's VIN isn't covered by the steering recall. · filed Jun 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  As I was backing my 2013 Ford Explorer Base model out of my garage I heard a pop and then my steering started making a grinding/dragging noise. When I pulled onto the street I noticed that my steering wheel would "stick". I went a short distance further down the road and it seemed to stop sticking. When I went around a curve towards the left, my steering stuck again and it was harder to get it to "unstick". I returned it back to my home and parked it back in the garage. I see that there is a recall for the steering on the 2013 models, but my VIN is NOT included in this recall. This is a huge safety hazard and could put me out of work, as I care for and transport autistic individuals. This vehicle and my job are my livelihood and this needs to be corrected/recall issued on all of the 2013 models since they all seem to be having similar steering issues. Vehicle has not yet been inspected. Vehicle is available for inspection on request.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11743397

• Steering suddenly became very difficult to turn in traffic, nearly causing an accident, with a power steering warning light coming on; dealer says this VIN isn't covered by the steering recall. · filed Feb 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  After dropping off my son at school, I turned the steering and suddenly it became very difficult to turn. I was stuck in school traffic and was nearly involved in an accident. Shortly after , the power steering assist warning light came on. I brought the vehicle to my mechanic, who ran a diagnostic and informed me there is a known recall related to the steering system on 2013 Ford Explorers. Based on this, the vehicle was towed by AAA to the nearest Ford Dealership. At the dealership, I was told that my specific Vehicle ( VIN#) is not listed under the recall. Given the seriousness of the steering failure and the safety risk involved, I am requesting further review and guidance on how to proceed.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11717027

Owners report exhaust fumes or carbon monoxide entering the cabin, mostly when accelerating hard, climbing hills or towing, causing headaches, nausea and drowsiness. Some say the service bulletin or recall fix did not stop it.

How common

38 of the 300 complaints we read (13%), roughly 283 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Injury risk: 37 of 38 reports; 11 reports mention an injury

• Carbon monoxide was detected inside the cabin even though a related recall repair had already been completed. · filed Feb 2022
  Read the owner's complaint

  Carbon monoxide levels in the cab. Persistent 10ppm co2 in the cab of the vehicle. Peak at 30ppm. The recall for this issue had previously been completed. 2nd issue was a valve allowed oil to infiltrate the intake which resulted in odor in the vehicle

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11454216

• A strong odor comes from the vehicle when accelerating, especially uphill; the dealership found nothing wrong. · filed Jan 2020
  Read the owner's complaint

  MY FORD EXPLORER HAS A DISTINCT ODOR WHEN I ACCELERATE. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD A CONTINUAL STRONG SMELL FROM THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, GENERALLY ON AN UPHILL INCLINE.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11297151

• Owner smells exhaust inside the cabin while driving and suspects an exhaust system leak. · filed Nov 2019
  Read the owner's complaint

  EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN DRIVING. CHECKED THE DOOR SEALS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE IT COULD BE COMING FROM AND FOUND NO BREAKS IN THEM. THAT LEAVES THE EXHAUST SYSTEM COULD BE LEAKING INTO THE CABIN

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11277694

Owners report the exterior windshield pillar trim or molding loosening, flapping and flying off while driving, sometimes repeatedly. Many say recall repair parts were unavailable, so they glued, taped or paid to replace the trim themselves.

How common

35 of the 300 complaints we read (12%), roughly 261 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Injury risk: 33 of 35 reports

Related recalls

Owners mention 24V031000. Check the VIN for it.

• Windshield A-pillar trim on both the driver's and passenger's sides detached; recall repair parts have not been available and the vehicle remains unrepaired. · filed Mar 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the A-pillar trim was detached from the driver’s and passenger’s side windshields. The approximate failure mileage was 217,000

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11726796

• Driver-side windshield A-pillar trim detached while driving and struck another vehicle; recall repair parts remain unavailable at multiple dealers. · filed Mar 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side exterior A-pillar trim detached and struck another vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. Several dealers were contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11722585

• Front passenger side windshield A-pillar trim detached and separated while rounding a corner at slow speed; recall repair parts remain unavailable and owner says the manufacturer has taken too long. · filed Feb 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving rounding a corner at a slow speed, the front passenger’s side A-pillar trim detached and separated from the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11719103

Owners report the water pump failing or leaking coolant, bringing on coolant warnings, overheating, cold heater air, fumes in the cabin and in some cases a highway stall.

How common

11 of the 300 complaints we read (4%), roughly 82 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Can affect control: 7 of 11 reports

• A small water pump leak led to the engine dying in the middle of busy traffic after exiting the interstate, which owner says could have caused a serious accident. · filed Aug 2025
  Read the owner's complaint

  My water pump started having a small leak about 2 weeks ago to where I had to put water in to get to work and then again to get home. I contacted Ford to inquire about a cost for this repair and was told they had to diagnose first. Then on Friday Aug 1st my children and I were driving on the interstate and had just gotten off at our exit and the car died in the middle of busy traffic. After waiting for the car to cool, the water was added and I took the car to a Ford dealership. If I had been on the interstate when this happened we would’ve been in a serious if not deadly accident. The leak needs looked into to see if it’s a faulty pump. I’m now looking at a complete engine repair over a leak. Also the back passenger door frame is a blind spot for us who are 5’5.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11678224

• The water pump began leaking heavily and the engine overheated in traffic; owner was quoted at least $2,500 to repair it. · filed Sep 2024
  Read the owner's complaint

  The engine water pump started leaking heavily (as discovered later) and the engine overheated in traffic. Since the water pump is located inside the engine, i have bee quoted an astronomical repair estimate of at lease $2,500 (including the parts) just to fix the water pump!! That is completely insane and apparently a design flaw, in my opinion, that I think the manufacturer should be responsible for.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11614802

• Vehicle briefly hesitated and lost power intermittently with the check engine light on; an independent mechanic diagnosed and repaired a failed water pump. · filed Jun 2024
  Read the owner's complaint

  The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated and lost motive power. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 93,000.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11595511

Owners report the backup camera going black, showing a camera unavailable message, or showing a pixelated or mirrored image when in reverse.

How common

8 of the 300 complaints we read (3%), roughly 60 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Reduced safety margin: 8 of 8 reports

• Backup camera stopped working entirely, though the proximity sensor alarm still functions. · filed Sep 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS STOPPED WORKING, THE BEEPING SENSOR STILL ALARMS WHEN TO CLOSE BUT THE CAMERA DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11762154

• Rearview camera image is reversed and inverted with the guide lines missing, making it unusable in reverse; owner says newer Explorer model years have a recall for this but not the 2013. · filed Jul 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  The rearview camera reverses and inverts the image and the guiding lines disappear. I am unable to use the camera when reversing. There is a recall on other Ford Explorers (2020-2024) just not my year (2013). It is not right that I drive a car that has the same issue becuse this is a known issue for the company.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11753942

• Rearview camera is sometimes unavailable, flickers, or shows a reversed image. · filed Mar 2026
  Read the owner's complaint

  Review camera unavailable, image flashing, or image reversed.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11725732

Owners report the door ajar warning coming on while the doors are closed, keeping interior lights on and stopping the doors from locking while driving.

How common

8 of the 300 complaints we read (3%), roughly 60 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Reduced safety margin: 3 of 8 reports

• A faulty door ajar sensor keeps interior lights on and prevents doors from locking while driving; owner says a service bulletin exists and wants a recall. · filed Dec 2017
  Read the owner's complaint

  THE "DOOR AJAR" SENSOR ON MANY FORD PRODUCTS IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AT NIGHT AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOORS TO BE LOCKED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS AS CHILDREN COULD OPEN THE DOORS ACCIDENTALLY AND FALL OUT. IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS HAVING THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A SERVICE BULLETIN IS AVAILABLE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DOOR AJAR. BATTERY DRAINS QUICKLY AFTER GETTING NEW ON WITHIN A YEAR. BRAKES ALSO CONTINUES SQUEAKS AFTER GETTING THEM FIXED.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11056819

• The front doors would not register as closed after locking, keeping the overhead light and door warning on until closed several times. · filed Mar 2017
  Read the owner's complaint

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT WOULD CLOSE AND LOCK THE DOORS; HOWEVER, THE OVERHEAD LIGHT AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE DOORS WERE NOT CLOSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLOSE THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #10966335

• The driver door shows a door ajar warning most of the time even when closed; it was fixed once under warranty but is happening again. · filed Jan 2017
  Read the owner's complaint

  DRIVER DOOR SHOWS DOOR AJAR A MAJORITY OF THE TIME WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. ISSUE WAS RESOLVED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NOW HAPPENING AGAIN.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #10947543

Owners report a shift to park warning appearing while the vehicle is already in park, sometimes draining the battery; some had the gear shifter replaced.

How common

5 of the 300 complaints we read (2%), roughly 37 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Not a safety issue; 1 report mentions a crash

• Dash falsely warns to shift into park after already parked, draining the battery while it waits, and the factory remote start stops working. · filed Jun 2019
  Read the owner's complaint

  WHEN I SHIFT IT TO PARK. IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT AND WHEN YOU TURN OF THE CAR. A SIGN COMES UP ON THE DASH SCREEN SAYING 'SHIFT INTO PARK'. AND IT DRAINS YOUR BATTERY BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS WAITING FOR YOU TO SHIFT IT. ALSO YOU CAN'T USE THE FACTORY REMOTE START.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11222349

• Dashboard warns to shift into park and dings even though the vehicle is already in park and stationary with the engine running. · filed Feb 2018
  Read the owner's complaint

  WARNING THAT CAR NEEDS TO BE SHIFTED INTO PARK. ALARM DINGS EVEN WHEN CAR IS IN PARK. DISPLAY DOES NOT INDICATE CAR IS IN PARK . CAR IS STATIONARY POSITION IN PARKING LOT AND ENGINE IS ON.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11073323

• After repeated false 'shift to park' messages, the car rolled after being placed in park in the rain and crashed into the owner's house. · filed Feb 2016
  Read the owner's complaint

  I NOTICED RIGHT AFTER BUYING MY CAR THAT IT WOULD SOMETIMES BE IN PARK, BUT THE CAR WOULD TELL ME TO SHIFT TO PARK. I TALKED WITH THE SALES GUY AT THE DEALERSHIP, HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK IN TO IT. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES. THEN ONE TIME, I SHIFTED TO PARK IN A RAIN STORM AND RELEASED THE BRAKE. I LOOKED IN TO THE PASSENGER SEAT TO GRAB MY THINGS AND THE CAR ROLLED IN TO MY HOUSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND TO THE CAR.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #10824075

Owners report the aluminum hood corroding with paint bubbling, peeling or chipping, often along the front edge.

How common

5 of the 300 complaints we read (2%), roughly 37 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Not a safety issue

• Aluminum hood is bubbling and corroding along the edge, worsening over time and expected to eventually make the hood structurally unsound. · filed Jun 2019
  Read the owner's complaint

  MY 2013 EXPLORER HAD COME BUBBLES COMING UP ALONG THE EDGE OF THE HOOD. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BODY WORK ISSUE BUT THE BODY SHOP SAID IT IS ACTUALLY CORROSION FROM THE ALUMINUM HOOD. THE CORROSION IS PROGRESSING AND GETTING WORSE. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAVE MY HOOD STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND EXPOSE ALL THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS TO THE ELEMENTS FOR DEGRADATION.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11217356

• Paint bubbling appeared on the hood after the paint warranty expired; owner says Ford denied corrosion warranty coverage despite citing relevant service bulletins. · filed Oct 2017
  Read the owner's complaint

  PAINT BUBBLING ON HOOD BECAME VISIBLE AFTER PAINT WARRANTY WAS OVER. FORD ADVISED MAY BE COVERED BY CORROSION WARRANTY. BROUGHT TO DEALER WHO REFERRED TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. FORD REVIEWED PHOTOS TAKEN BY DEALER AND DENIED COVERAGE STATING CORROSION HAD TO BE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE AFFECTED AREA. OWNER APPEALED THEIR DECISION CITING TWO PRIOR FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR ALUMINUM BODY PART CONTAMINATION BY IRON IN PAINTING PROCESS. FORD AND DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS CORROSION MAY BE A SIGN OF A BIGGER SAFETY PROBLEM.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11040972

• Paint has been chipping from the hood for the past year. · filed Aug 2017
  Read the owner's complaint

  PAINT IS CHIPPING FROM THE HOOD FOR THE PAST YEAR!

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11019572

Owners report the driver door latch breaking, including one case where the door popped open while driving.

How common

4 of the 300 complaints we read (1%), roughly 30 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Airbag, seat belt or door safety: 3 of 4 reports; 1 report mentions a crash

• Driver door latch broke, causing the door to fly open while driving; owner says Ford refused to fix it after the recall expired. · filed Oct 2020
  Read the owner's complaint

  THE DRIVER CAR DOOR LATCH BROKE OFF AND DRIVER DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DOOR FLYS OPEN WHILE IN MOTION ESPECIALLY ON TURNS AND I HAVE TO HOLD IT CLOSED WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE WITH MY ONLY OTHER HAND. CANNOT GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE! I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER OR BACK SEAT TO PUSH THE DOOR FULLY OPEN SO I CAN GET IN TO DRIVE. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE IN MOTION. FORD SAID THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED 7/2020 AND REFUSES TO FIX MY CAR DOOR HANDLE, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION I WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AND THE NEW OWNER WILL THEN BE IN DANGER HOWEVER FORD REFUSES TO COVER THIS DEFECT WITH THEIR DOOR HANDLES THAT ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON IT. PLEASE HELP ME MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ANY NEW CAR OWNERS WHO WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR FORD EXPLORER AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AND COVER THE EXPENSE TO FIX WHEN IT WAS PART OF A RECALL THAT 'EXPIRED'. I'M SCARED I MAY FLY OUT OF THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING AND GET HURT OR RUN OVER BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS DOOR WON'T CLOSE SECURELY.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11364174

• Driver's door latch failed while driving, triggering a door-not-latched warning and the door opening; it later wouldn't latch and a handle piece fell off. · filed Jan 2019
  Read the owner's complaint

  MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON SAYING DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NOT LATCHED AND MY DOOR STARTED TO OPEN. I PULLED OVER AND COULDN'T GET THE DOOR TO LATCH SHUT. AFTER WORKING WITH IT IT LATCHED SO I COULD GET HOME. THE NEXT TIME I GOT INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE THE SAME THING, MY DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THIS TIME I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE AND COULD NOT. THE LATCH IT STILL BROKEN, A PIECE OF THE HANDLE ACTUALLY FELL OFF. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF , KEPT IN A GARAGE , LOW MILES ETC. OUR FRIEND MENTIONED THEIR FORD HAVING A RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCH. DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T IMPLEMENTED ON ALL 2013 EXPLORERS.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11172286

• Driver's door handle latch broke and the door popped open while driving, causing the driver to swerve and hit a sign post. · filed Sep 2016
  Read the owner's complaint

  WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY OPENED FOR NO REASON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE SUDDEN DOOR OPENING CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AND I HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR ON A SIGN POST. UPON EXAMINATION AFTER PULLING OVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT HAD FALLEN APART, A SMALL LATCH IN THE HANDLE WAS BROKEN CAUSING IT COME LOOSE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE DOOR FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ENDED UP HAVING TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO RESOURCEFULNESS OF MY HUSBAND, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS AND REPAIR THE DAMAGES OURSELVES BUT THE COST OF THE PARTS ALONE TOTALED IN EXCESS OF $400.00.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #10905947

Owners report rainwater leaking into the rear of the cabin near the third-row seat belts, spare tire area or liftgate seams, causing mold and mildew smells, sometimes despite repeated dealer repairs.

How common

4 of the 300 complaints we read (1%), roughly 30 of all 2,234 on file

Safety

Not a safety issue

• Water leaks into the back of the vehicle through the third-row seat belt area every time it rains, causing a bad smell; the dealer says it's a known problem with these vehicles. · filed Feb 2024
  Read the owner's complaint

  every time it rains, water comes inside the vehicle on the back side, noticed water coming from the third row seat belts, that cause a bad smell inside the vehicle and cost a lot of money to get that fix, Unknow how to fix, I called the Dealer the stated that is a known problem with this vehicles .

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11570017

• Water repeatedly leaks into the cabin near the spare tire area and third row seat belt after rain, recurring for five years despite dealer repairs. · filed Jan 2019
  Read the owner's complaint

  PURCHASED MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH 50 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2012.DURING 2015 HAD A STRONG MOLD SMELL,UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND APPROXIMATELY 3'' OF WATER IN MY SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA, 3RD ROW SEAT SHOULDER BELT WET AND CARPET UNDER 3RD ROW SEAT PASSENGER SIDE SOAKED.TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER WARRANTY ON 4-27-2015 / 32,002 MILES,HAD 17 DAYS.TOOK IN UNDER WARRANTY 6-25-2015 WITH 34,460 MILES,HAD 4 DAYS.TOOK IN 3-11-16 WITH 44,501 MILES,DEALERSHIP SENT VEHICLE TO THEIR BODYSHOP FOR 4 DAYS.TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 2-14-18 THEY SENT IT OFF SIGHT TO JR'S AUTOMOTIVE TO REPAIR WATER LEAK.TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 1-20-19 FOR EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT I HAVE HAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS, FOUND WATER IN VEHICLE SAME AREA 2 DAYS LATER.IN THE APPROXIMATELY LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE HAD 2 CASES OPENED WITH "FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER"AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE PLUS FILED A CLAIM WITH BBB WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THAT I WOULD NEVER GET OFF OF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND WITH FORD.BBB TURNED ME DOWN BASE ON TOO MANY MILES ON VEHICLE WHICH REMEMBER IS NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE BUT A WEATHER DEPENDENT ISSUE.I COULD HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP DOZEN OF TIMES DURING THIS PERIOD BUT BECAUSE OF INCONVENIENCE WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND WORKING 12 HOUR SHIFT WORK IT WAS JUST IMPRACTICABLE.ALL ISSUES WITH WATER INSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS WHEN I CHECKED IT AFTER IT WAS PARKED AND OF COURSE WITH RAIN OR MELTED SNOW INVOLVED AND ON A CITY STREET.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11172248

• Water leaks into the third row from liftgate seams after rain, causing mildew; a belt squeal in rain also dims lights and slows the car. · filed Sep 2018
  Read the owner's complaint

  2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT, FACTORY SEAMS NOT SEALED UNDER POWER LIFT GATE IN REAR CAUSED WATER LEAKING INTO THIRD ROW SEAT FROM SEATBELT, CARPET HAD MILDEW AND MSEATBELT WAS DRENCHED, TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITHOUT RESOLVE AND HAD TO SELF PAY BECAUSE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER WATER LEAKS. WOULD NEVER HAVE NOTICED THIS FIRST OCCURRENCE IF I HAD NOT PURCHASED CUSTOM WEATHER TECH FLOOR MATS THROUGHOUT VEHICLE WHICH ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE POOLING OF WATER. HAD TO TELL THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHAT TO FIX AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH AND MULTIPLE FORUMS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. NOW HAS SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER LEAKING FROM RIGHT DRIVERS SIDE INTO FLOORBOARD, BELT SQUEALS WHEN ACCELERATING IN RAIN CAUSING LIGHTS TO DIM AND VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. MILDEW SMELL VERY STRONG COMING FROM AIR VENTS CAUSING HEADACHES WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS LEAK OCCURS AFTER AFTER EVERY RAINSTORM WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WILL LEAK INTO CABIN ONTO LEG WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, LEAKAGE ENTRANCE POINT UNKNOWN, BUT EXITS INTO VEHICLE UNDER STEERING WHEEL. FORD CORPORATE CONTINUES TO BLOW ME OFF AND WANTS ME TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH I HAVE ALREADY DONE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL WHICH FIXES ALL LEAK POINTS WITH PROPER SEAM SEALANT AND ALL CARPETS AND AIR SYSTEM IN VEHICLE BEING REPLACED AS MOLD CAUSES RESPIRATORY HEALTH ISSUES.

  NHTSA complaint ODI #11131147